Comparable effect of aliskiren or a diuretic added on an angiotensin II receptor blocker on augmentation index in hypertension: a multicentre, prospective, randomised study

Abstract

Background

The effects of antihypertensive drug combination therapy on central blood pressure (BP) and augmentation index (AI) have not been fully elucidated. We investigated the effects of the direct renin inhibitor, aliskiren, or a diuretic added to an angiotensin II receptor blocker on AI in patients with essential hypertension.

Methods

A 24-week, prospective, multicentre, randomised, open-label study enrolled 103 patients already treated with valsartan. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either valsartan with aliskiren (V+A), or valsartan with trichlormethiazide (V+T). The primary outcome was the change in AI derived from radial artery tonometry. Secondary outcome measures included systolic and diastolic BP, cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI, which reflects arterial stiffness) and urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine concentration.

Results

After 24 weeks, systolic and diastolic BP were significantly reduced in both groups to a broadly comparable extent. There was no significant difference in AI at the end of the study between the V+A group and the V+T group (between-group difference: −2.3%, 95% CI −6.9% to 2.2%, p=0.31). Central BP at the end of the study also did not differ between the two groups (p=0.62). There was no significant difference in the CAVI between the groups at the end of the study. Urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine concentration was significantly lower in the V+A group than in the V+T group (p<0.01), suggesting that V+A attenuated oxidative stress more than V+T.

Conclusion

The combination of valsartan and aliskiren had an effect on AI comparable with that of the combination of valsartan and trichlormethiazide.

UMIN Clinical Trial Registration number

UMIN000005726.

Key questions.

What is already known about this subject?

• Augmentation index (AI) and central haemodynamics were reported to be associated with cardiovascular structural damage and clinical outcomes. Different classes of antihypertensive drugs have different effects on AI and central aortic pressures.

What does this study add?

• A 24-week, prospective, multicentre, randomised, open-label study demonstrated that treatment of valsartan with aliskiren, or valsartan with trichlormethiazide, decreased AI and central pressure similarly. Urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine concentration was significantly lower in the valsartan with aliskiren group than in the valsartan with trichlormethiazide group, suggesting that valsartan with aliskiren attenuated oxidative stress more than valsartan with trichlormethiazide.

How might this impact on clinical practice?

• The combination of valsartan and aliskiren did not show better effect on central haemodynamics than the combination of valsartan and trichlormethiazide.

Introduction

The pulse wave is reflected back from regions of impedance mismatch in the arterial tree.^{1 2} The augmentation index (AI), determined from the central arterial pressure waveform, has been proposed as a measure of aortic stiffness and wave reflection.¹ AI is the proportion of central pulse pressure attributable to the secondary systolic pressure rise produced by the overlap of forward and reflected pressure waves. The AI derived from the radial pulse waveform has been demonstrated to correlate well with the AI in the aortic pressure waveform.³ Several studies have illuminated the relationships among AI, cardiovascular structural damage and clinical outcomes.^{4 5}

Different classes of antihypertensive drugs have different effects on AI and central aortic pressures, even if they have a similar impact on brachial blood pressure (BP). Several studies have demonstrated that, in monotherapy, the effects of an ACE inhibitor or calcium channel blocker (CCB) on AI were greater than those of a β-adrenoreceptor blocker or a diuretic.^{6 7} There have also been several reports on the effect of combination antihypertensive therapy on AI. The Conduit Artery Function Evaluation study demonstrated that CCB-based therapy had a greater effect on central aortic pressure and AI than β-blocker-based therapy.⁴ Another study reported that the effects of a combination of an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB) and a CCB on AI were greater than that of an ARB and a diuretic.^{8 9} Aliskiren, an orally available non-peptide renin inhibitor, blocks the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) by reducing the production of angiotensin.¹⁰ However, the effects of combination therapy with aliskiren and other antihypertensive drugs on AI and central aortic pressure are not known.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether aliskiren or a diuretic added to valsartan, an ARB, reduced AI in patients with essential hypertension inadequately treated with valsartan alone.

Methods

Study population

This was a 24-week, prospective, multicentre, open-label, randomised study. Participants were enrolled at the 12 affiliated hospitals of Okayama University in Japan from June 2012 to March 2013. Conduct of the study was approved by the ethics committees of Okayama University and other hospitals. All participants provided written informed consent before enrolment. This study was conducted according to the principles expressed in the Declaration of Helsinki.

Eligible patients were adults (>30 and <85 years old) with essential hypertension who had not achieved a BP goal of 140/90 mm Hg after receiving ARB monotherapy. Patients with the following conditions were excluded: renal insufficiency (serum creatine concentration ≥2 mg/dL), secondary hypertension, severe hypertension (systolic BP ≥180 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥110 mm Hg), congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association class II or greater), severe valvular heart disease, myocardial infarction or stroke within 6 months of study initiation, chronic atrial filtration, malignant arrhythmia, severe liver disease, chronic inflammatory disease, malignant disease (expected survival <6 months) or treatment with a RAS inhibitor other than an ARB.

Study design

The study design is shown in figure 1. Patients were randomly assigned to either the valsartan with aliskiren (V+A) group or the valsartan with trichlormethiazide (V+T) group. Randomisation was conducted by the clinical trials unit based at Okayama University via a secure website and was stratified by the centre using random permuted blocks. Both groups were given valsartan 80 mg/day, in combination with aliskiren 150 mg/day in the V+A group or 1 mg/day trichlormethiazide in the V+T group. After 12 weeks, dose titration was permitted up to 300 mg/day aliskiren or 2 mg/day trichlormethiazide if BP had not been lowered to the extent recommended in the 2009 Japanese Society of Hypertension guidelines.¹¹ Treatment was continued for a further 12 weeks. Other drugs that could potentially have interfered with the efficacy of the study drugs were prohibited.

Figure 1.

Study protocol. Patients were randomly assigned to either the valsartan with aliskiren (V+A) group or the valsartan with trichlormethiazide (V+T) group. Both groups were given valsartan 80 mg/day, in combination with aliskiren 150 mg/day in the V+A group or 1 mg/day trichlormethiazide in the V+T group. After 12 weeks, dose titration was permitted up to 300 mg/day aliskiren or 2 mg/day trichlormethiazide. Treatment was continued for a further 12 weeks. BP, blood pressure.

End points

The primary outcomes were the change in the radial AI and central BP. To avoid multiplicity issue, we prioritised AI. The secondary outcomes were arterial BP, the change in arterial stiffness and serum and urine biochemical parameters.

Data collection

BP and pulse wave analysis

First, after a 5 mins rest and with the subject seated, brachial BP was measured using an automatic cuff oscillometric device. The mean of two readings was used to determine systolic BP, diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure.⁹ Next, the radial pulse wave was determined at the wrist using applanation tonometry with a high-fidelity micromanometer (HEM-9000AI; Omron Healthcare, Kyoto, Japan), as previously described.^{12 13} The AI of the radial pulse was calculated as the difference between the first systolic peak and the second systolic peak (reflection wave) of the pulse waveform, expressed as a percentage of the second peak relative to the first peak. The estimated central BP and heart rate-corrected AI (AI@75, the AI adjusted to the heart rate of 75 beats per minute) were derived from the HEM-9000AI.

Arterial stiffness

To assess arterial stiffness, the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) was measured automatically using a VaSera device (Fukuda Denshi, Tokyo, Japan), informed by recordings of the BP, pulse wave velocity (PWV), ECG and heart sounds.¹⁴ The PWV was calculated by dividing the distance from the aortic valve to the ankle artery by the sum of the time between the aortic valve closing sound and the notch of the brachial pulse wave, and the time between the rise of the brachial pulse wave and the ankle pulse wave. The CAVI was determined using the following equation: CAVI = a[(2ρ/ΔP) × ln(Ps/Pd) × PWV2] + b, where Ps and Pd are the systolic and diastolic BP, respectively; PWV is the PWV between the heart and ankle; ΔP is Ps−Pd; ρ is the blood density and a and b are constants.¹⁵ The mean of the CAVI measured on each side was used for analysis.

Blood sampling

Blood samples were collected from an antecubital vein after 12 hours of overnight fast and after at least 30 min of rest with the patient in supine position. Routine haematology and biochemistry, including glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), and the serum concentrations of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, creatine (Cr) and uric acid were measured immediately using an autoanalyser. The serum concentrations of aldosterone, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and adiponectin, and the urinary concentration of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, were measured at a single institution (SRL Hachioji Laboratory, Tokyo, Japan). We calculated the 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine to creatine (8-OHdG/Cr) and urinary albumin to creatine (UACR) ratios. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated by the following equation: eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m²)=194×Cr^−1.094×age^−0.287× (0.739 if female).¹⁶ Chronic kidney disease was defined as an eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m². The study investigators who collected and analysed the data were blinded to the participants’ randomisation status.

Statistical analysis

The sample size was determined on the basis of the estimated AI reported in other recent studies.4 8 9 17 We assumed a mean difference in AI of 3.5%, with an SD of 7%. Using a two-sided test for differences, a minimum sample size of 64 patients was required in each group to detect statistically significant differences in AI with a power of 80% and an α-type error of 5%.

Data are presented as the mean±SD unless otherwise stated. The unpaired Student’s t-test was used for comparisons of continuous variables between groups. Categorical variables were compared between groups by χ² analysis. The paired Student’s t-test was used to compare changes in continuous variables in a group from baseline to the end of the study. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed to compare the haemodynamic and biochemical parameters between the groups with age, sex and each baseline covariate, as the mean of age of the groups stratified by sex was slightly different (data not shown). The least squares mean and 95% CI for between-treatment group differences were also calculated. Values of p <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Data were analysed using SPSS 17.0 for Windows V.24.

Results

Participants

We randomised 103 participants to the V+A and V+T groups (figure 2), but the data of 97 were subject to final analysis (48 in the V+A group and 49 in the V+T group). There were no significant differences in age, sex, height, body mass index, smoking status or baseline drug regime of each group (table 1). Patients with chronic kidney disease comprised 60% of the V+A group and 59% of the V+T group. The mean eGFR in the V+A group and the V+T group was 56.3±13.2 mL/min/1.73 m² and 57.8±18.0 mL/min/1.73 m², respectively. The mean final doses of aliskiren and trichlormethiazide were 198.8±71.1 mg/day and 1.5±0.7 mg/day, respectively.

Figure 2.

Patient distribution. A total of 103 participants were randomised into the V+A and V+T groups, but the data of 97 were subject to final analysis (48 in the V+A group and 49 in the V+T group). V+A, valsartan with aliskiren; V+T, valsartan with trichlormethiazide.

Table 1.

Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the study participants

	V+A group (n=48)	V+T group (n=49)
Age (years)	68±10	68±10
Men	21 (44)	21(43)
Body height (cm)	156.0±10.0	156.9±8.1
BMI (kg/m2)	24.9±3.8	24.7±3.6
Dyslipidaemia	21(44)	22 (44)
Diabetes mellitus	7 (14)	4 (8)
Chronic kidney disease	29 (60)	29 (59)
Current smoking	10 (21)	6 (12)
Previous CVD	10 (21)	10 (20)
Hypoglycaemic drugs	7 (14)	2 (4)
Statins	16 (33)	15 (31)

Data are expressed as the mean±SD or the number (percentage).

BMI, body mass index; CVD, cardiovascular disease; V+A, valsartan with aliskiren; V+T, valsartan with trichlormethiazide.

Changes in haemodynamic parameters

The changes in the haemodynamic parameters in each group over the study period are shown in table 2. Systolic and diastolic BPs were significantly lower in both groups at the end of the study and to a broadly comparable extent. The AI at the end of the study in the V+A group was significantly lower than baseline (p=0.01), but there was no significant change in the V+T group over the course of the study (p=0.06); there was no significant difference in the AI at the end of the study between the groups (p=0.31). Change in AI was associated with change in BP in the V+A group (r=0.52, p <0.01) and the V+T group (r=0.56, p <0.01). The AI@75 and central BP also decreased significantly from baseline over the course of the study in the V+A and V+T groups (p=0.01 and <0.01, respectively), but there were no difference in the AI@75 at the end of the study between the groups (p=0.46). Heart rate did not change significantly from baseline in either the V+A or V+T group (p=0.93 and 0.23, respectively).

Table 2.

Adjusted changes in haemodynamic parameters in the V+A and in the V+T groups

		V+A group (n=48)	V+T group (n=49)	Between-group difference	p
SBP	Baseline	155±16	155±17
(mm Hg)	End of study	137±21*	138±16*
	End of study†	138 >(132 to 143)	138 (133 to 143)	−0.7 (−7.9 to 6.5)	0.85
DBP	Baseline	88±11	88±12
(mm Hg)	End of study	79±13*	80±12*
	End of study†	79 (76 to 82)	81 (77 to 84)	−1.5 (−5.9 to 3.0)	0.52
Heart rate	Baseline	69±10	70±11
(bpm)	End of study	69±14	68±11
	End of study†	69 (67 to 72)	68 (68 to 69)	1.6 (−2.6 to 5.7)	0.45
AI	Baseline	92.5±11.7	91.8±13.0
(%)	End of study	87.3±15.9*	88.7±13.1
	End of study†	86.2 (83.0 to 89.4)	88.5 (85.3 to 91.7)	−2.3 (2.2 to 6.9)	0.31
AI@75	Baseline	87.2±12.1	89.8±11.0
(%)	End of study	82.2±17.9*	85.8±11.2*
	End of study†	83.8 (80.8 to 86.9)	85.5 (82.4 to 88.5)	−1.6 (−6.0 to 2.7)	0.46
Central BP	Baseline	162±24	164±21
(mm Hg)	End of study	145±26*	149±24*
	End of study†	147 (140 to 153)	149 (143 to 155)	−2.2 (−11.2 to 6.7)	0.62

Data are expressed as the mean±SD or mean (95% CI).

*p <0.01 versus baseline (paired t-test) and **p <0.05 versus baseline (paired t-test).

†The least square means (95% CI) and p values were derived from ANCOVA adjusted for age, sex and each baseline value.

ANCOVA, analysis of covariance; AI, augmentation index; AI@75, AI adjusted for a heart rate of 75 beats per minute; BP, blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; SBP, systolic blood pressure; V+A, valsartan with aliskiren; V+T, valsartan with trichlormethiazide.

Changes in biochemical parameters

The changes in renal function, glucose metabolism, lipid profiles and other biochemical parameters over the course of the study are shown in table 3. At the end of the study, serum creatine concentration was significantly elevated from baseline in the V+T group (p=0.02), but there was no significant difference in serum creatine concentration between the groups at the end of the study (p=0.36). No increase in serum potassium concentration was evident in either group. The UACR was significantly reduced in both groups after treatment (V+A group, p=0.001; V+T group, p=0.02), but the extent of reduction did not differ between the groups (p=0.06). The HbA1c at the end of the study was significantly lower in the V+A group than in the V+T group (p <0.01). The serum concentrations of LDL cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL cholesterol in both groups did not change significantly over the course of the study. The serum uric acid concentration in the V+T group was significantly higher at the end of the study than in the V+A group (p <0.01), but there were no significant changes in the serum concentrations of aldosterone, adiponectin, BNP and urinary creatine. The urinary 8-OHdG/Cr ratio exhibited a significantly greater reduction in the V+A group than in the V+T group (p <0.01). Plasma renin activity in the V+A group was significantly reduced more than that in the V+T group (p <0.01). In all patients, the change in plasma renin activity was significantly correlated with the change in the urinary 8-OHdG/Cr ratio (r=0.29, p <0.01).

Table 3.

Adjusted changes in biochemical parameters in the V+A and in the V+T groups

		V+A group (n=48)	V+T group (n=49)	Between-group difference	p
BUN	Baseline	15.6±4.1	16.2±4.2
(mg/dL)	End of study	17.5±5.2*	16.7±5.3
	End of study*	17.8 (16.6 to 19.0)	16.5 (15.3 to 17.7)	1.3 (−0.46 to 3.00)	0.15
Creatine	Baseline	0.74±0.19	0.74±0.22
(mg/dL)	End of study	0.76±0.20	0.78±0.24*
	End of study*	0.76 (0.74 to 0.79)	0.78 (0.76 to 0.81)	0.02 (−0.02 to 0.05)	0.36
Na	Baseline	141.0±2.1	141.5±2.1
(mEq/L)	End of study	140.6±2.2	141.5±1.9
	End of study*	140.1 (140.2 to 141.3)	141.4 (140.9 to 141.9)	−0.6 (−1.3 to 0.10)	0.09
K	Baseline	4.2±0.4	4.2±0.3
(mEq/L)	End of study	4.3±0.4	4.2±0.4
	End of study*	4.3 (4.2 to 4.4)	4.2 (4.1 to 4.3)	0.1 (−0.9 to 2.2)	0.40
Cl	Baseline	104.5±2.1	105.2±2.4
(mEq/L)	End of study	104.8±2.4	105.3±2.3
	End of study*	105.0 (104.5 to 105.7)	105.1 (104.6 to 105.7)	−0.1 (−0.9 to 0.8)	0.89
UACR	Baseline	35.9±38.9	33.6±35.3
(mg/g creatine)	End of study	19.8±15.4*	25.6±27.4*
	End of study*	19.2 (14.2 to 24.2)	26.0 (21.3 to 30.7)	−6.7 (−13.7 to 0.14)	0.055
HbA1c	Baseline	5.5±0.6	5.3±0.3
(%)	End of study	5.5±0.6	5.5±0.4*†
	End of study*	5.5 (5.4 to 5.6)	5.7 (5.5 to 5.8)	−0.2 (−0.3 to −0.003)	0.045
LDL-C	Baseline	129±58	106±34
(mg/dL)	End of study	101±28	106±33
	End of study*	102 (96 to 108)	106 (100 to 112)	−4 (−13 to 5)	0.38
Triglyceride	Baseline	130±59	130±73
(mg/dL)	End of study	131±67	129±69
	End of study*	131 (117 to 147)	129 (114 to 144)	3 (−19 to –24)	0.79
HDL-C	Baseline	61±16	61±15
(mg/dL)	End of study	62±18	62±16
	End of study*	62 (59 to 65)	62 (59 to 65)	0.02 (−3.8 to –3.9)	0.99
Uric acid	Baseline	4.7±1.3	5.4±1.3
(mg/nL)	End of study	5.0±1.2	5.7±1.3*
	End of study*	5.3 (4.9 to 5.7)	6.0 (5.7 to 6.4)	−0.7 (−1.3 to −0.2)	<0.01
Plasma renin activity	Baseline	2.1±2.5	2.0±3.1
(ng/mL/hour)	End of study	0.7±1.0	2.3±2.5
	End of study*	0.7 (0.2 to 1.2)	2.4 (1.9 to 2.9)	1.7 (2.4 to 1.0)	<0.01
Aldosterone	Baseline	79.4±43.7	79.9±35.8
(pg/mL)	End of study	76.7±35.7	79.7±33.1
	End of study*	75.8 (67.5 to 84.1)	81.3 (73.5 to 89.0)	−5.5 (−16.8 to 5.9)	0.34
Adiponectin	Baseline	13.9±8.5	13.8±8.9
(μg/mL)	End of study	14.2±7.9	13.6±7.9
	End of study*	13.6 (12.9 to 14.4)	13.2 (12.5 to 13.9)	0.46 (−0.56 to 1.49)	0.37
BNP	Baseline	48.8±53.0	39.1±33.7
(ng/mL)	End of study	34.2±82.2	27.8±53.6
	End of study*	32.5 (26.2 to 38.8)	29.4 (23.2 to 35.5)	3.0 (−5.7 to 11.8)	0.49
Urinary 8-OHdG/Cr	Baseline	13.3±5.0	13.2±5.5
(ng/mg creatine)	End of study	10.3±3.9*	12.4±5.6
	End of study*	10.3 (9.2 to 11.4)	12.3 (11.3 to 13.4)	−2.0 (−3.6 to 0.5)	<0.01
Urinary creatine	Baseline	0.87±0.50	0.87±0.40
(mg/dL)	End of study	0.97±0.56	1.04±0.82
	End of study*	0.88 (0.76 to 1.00)	0.89 (0.75 to 1.04)	−0.01 (−0.20 to 0.18)	0.90

Data are expressed as the mean±SD or mean (95% CI).

*The least square means (95% CI) and p values were derived from ANCOVA adjusted for age, sex and each baseline value.

†p <0.01 versus baseline (paired t-test) and **p <0.05 versus baseline (paired t-test).

ANCOVA, analysis of covariance; BNP, plasma brain natriuretic peptide concentration; BUN, blood urea nitrogen; HbA1c, glycated haemoglobin; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; UACR, urinary albumin to creatine ratio; 8-OHdG/Cr, urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine to creatine ratio.

Change in arterial stiffness

The CAVI was significantly reduced in both groups after 24 weeks of treatment (falling from 9.0±1.5 to 8.6±1.3 in the V+A group, p=0.01; and from 8.8±1.2 to 8.5±1.2 in the V+T group, p=0.02). At the end of the study, there was no significant difference in CAVI between the groups (mean 8.55 (95% CI 9.29 to 9.29) in the V+A group compared with 8.54 (95% CI 8.28 to 8.79) in the V+T group; p=0.97 by ANCOVA).

Safety analysis

One patient in the V+A group discontinued the study because of hypotension. There were no other reports of adverse events, such as hyperkalaemia, oedema, diarrhoea or renal impairment.

Discussion

We found that adding aliskiren to valsartan therapy reduced AI over a 24-week treatment period. Each combination reduced AI to a broadly comparable extent, but the reduction in urinary 8-OHdG/Cr ratio was greater in those taking valsartan with aliskiren. To the best of our knowledge, ours is the first study to have evaluated the effect of aliskiren-ARB combination therapy on AI and central BP. Our findings suggest that combination therapy with aliskiren and an ARB may have a similar effect on central haemodynamic parameters, but are more effective at treating systemic oxidative stress than a combination of a diuretic with an ARB in patients with hypertension.

Antihypertensive drugs can have different effects on AI and central aortic pressures despite a similar impact on brachial BP.^6–8 Our previous study showed the effect of a combination of an ARB and a CCB on AI was greater than that of an ARB and a diuretic.⁹ In this study, dual RAS blockade with a direct renin inhibitor and an ARB was not able to show greater decrease in AI and central BP more than a combination of a diuretic and an ARB. Aliskiren suppresses the stimulation of the angiotensin II type 2 receptor, rather than blocking it like an ARB,¹⁸ and downregulates the ACE2/angiotensin-(1-7)/Mas receptor axis by inhibiting the upstream component of RAS.¹⁹ The beneficial effect of stimulating the angiotensin II type 2 receptor, such as vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects, may therefore be attenuated by aliskiren. As the reduction of CAVI was similar in both groups in this study, a combination of aliskiren and an ARB may not exhibit a superior vascular protective effect than a combination of a diuretic and an ARB.

We also demonstrated that the combination of aliskiren and valsartan reduced urine 8-OHdG/Cr ratio, a marker of oxidative stress, more than the combination of trichlormethiazide and valsartan. Other groups have reported that aliskiren attenuates oxidative stress in patients with diabetes mellitus, in non-diabetic patients and in patients with chronic kidney disease.^{20 21} Oxidative stress is one of the most important influences on vascular remodelling. In this study, we chose a 6-month duration of therapy on the basis of prior experience.^{8 9} A longer duration of follow-up might have elicited a statistically significant therapeutic influence on arterial stiffness.

We also found that the combination of aliskiren and valsartan reduced UACR to a broadly comparable extent with the combination of trichlormethiazide and valsartan. There are limited data regarding the effect of combination therapy with aliskiren and other antihypertensive drugs on renal function. In line with our study, Abe and colleagues reported that a combination of aliskiren and telmisartan reduced the proportional change in UACR more than a combination of aliskiren and a CCB in patients with type 2 diabetes.²⁰ A substudy of the Aliskiren Trial in Type 2 Diabetes Using Cardiorenal Endpoints (ALTITUDE) trial showed that aliskiren in addition to ACE inhibitor or ARB delayed progression to microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria in diabetes mellitus,²² and another study showed that a combination of an ARB and a diuretic decreased UACR significantly more than a combination of an ARB and a CCB.²³ Given that almost 90% of our cohort did not have a diagnosis of diabetes, a combination of aliskiren and an ARB may afford a degree of renal protection in patients with hypertension without diabetes. Nevertheless, further larger studies to evaluate the potential renoprotective effect of a combination of aliskiren and an ARB in non-diabetic patients are warranted.

One patient in our cohort discontinued our study because of hypotension. In the ALTITUDE trial, the incidence of hypotension in those treated with aliskiren and an RAS blocker was 12.1%. Clinicians should be aware of the risk of hypotension with this drug combination. Hyperkalaemia, which was the most common adverse event in the ALTITUDE trial, was not observed in our study. This could also be explained by the low incidence of diabetes mellitus in our cohort. The adverse events associated with aliskiren-RAS blocker combination therapy have not yet been fully elucidated; further studies are required to clarify this issue.

Our study had several limitations. First, it had a relatively small sample size, which may limit the generalisability of our findings. A larger study, preferably with a double-blind, multicentre design, will be required to confirm our findings. Second, the primary end point of this study was change in AI, not the incidence of subsequent cardiovascular events. Nevertheless, our data support previous studies showing the critical relationship between AI and cardiovascular mortality.⁴ Third, we used AI derived from the radial artery as a surrogate of the central AI, which is quantified from central or carotid pulse tracings. The clinical implications of central AI are well established,⁴ but recent studies have also illuminated the relationship between radial AI and cardiovascular risk factors.^{24 25} Furthermore, analysis of the radial pulse waveform is a more straightforward technique that could be used as part of routine clinical practice.

In conclusion, combination treatment with aliskiren and valsartan reduced AI to a similar extent as combination therapy with trichlormethiazide and valsartan. The urinary 8-OHdG/Cr ratio in the valsartan and aliskiren group fell significantly more than the trichlormethiazide group over the course of the study. These findings suggest that in patients with essential hypertension, combination therapy with aliskiren and an ARB may have a therapeutic benefit on central haemodynamic status and might also act to reduce oxidative stress. Further, large prospective studies are needed to clarify the differential contribution of various antihypertensive combination therapies to the reduction of AI.